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Communications · Public Relations & Advertising Rank #57 of 183

Public Relations & Advertisingat Auburn University

Graduates earn $41,458/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $531K; scenarios range from $493K to $536K depending on AI disruption.

Auburn, AL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,458
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$531K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Auburn University

Graduates earn $41,458/yr, edging above the $39,349 national average for Public Relations & Advertising — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Relations & Advertising programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Relations & Advertising's typical career paths, with 51% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,458 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #57 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Auburn University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $41,458 to $53,562 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$493K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$531K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$536K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Auburn University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Public Relations & Advertising graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Human resources managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 17,900 openings/yr
$140,030/yr
Moderate
2
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
3
Training and development managers
+5.8% 10-yr growth · 3,800 openings/yr
$127,090/yr
High
4
Advertising and promotions managers
-2.2% 10-yr growth · 2,100 openings/yr
$126,960/yr
Moderate
5
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
6
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 2,200 openings/yr
$96,310/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Public Relations & Advertising

How Auburn University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Syracuse University
NY · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Southern Methodist University
TX · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
71
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
26.4x
ROI
Top score
Miami University-Hamilton
OH · Public
72
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
26.2x
ROI
Miami University-Middletown
OH · Public
72
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
26.2x
ROI
Also at Auburn University

Other top programs at Auburn University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Auburn University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Public Relations & Advertising offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Public Relations & Advertising trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Public Relations & Advertising at Auburn University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Auburn University?

A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Relations & Advertising field.

Will AI replace Public Relations & Advertising careers?

With 51% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $493,310 in decade earnings vs $535,671 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.